File photo of BRS Working President K T Rama Rao.
Credit: PTI Photo
Hyderabad: Citing her "baseless and malicious" remarks aimed at "tarnishing" his reputation, BRS Working President K T Rama Rao (KTR) on Thursday filed a criminal defamation case against state forest minister Konda Surekha in the Nampally Court.
Recently, Surekha had said that KTR was the reason behind the divorce of Tollywood actor couple Naga Chaitanya and Samantha. She also went on to say that KTR was addicted to drugs and used to host rave parties.
After her remarks, KTR had issued a legal notice to Konda Surekha, demanding a public apology for her defamatory statements. Since Konda Surekha did not retract her comments, KTR filed a criminal defamation case against her.
KTR, in his plea, emphasised that such actions cannot go unchecked, as they not only cause personal damage but also undermine reputation.
KTR highlighted that this is not the first time Konda Surekha has indulged in such defamatory actions. He reminded the court that Surekha had previously been reprimanded by the Election Commission for similar baseless remarks. Her repeated violations of decorum, he argued, reflect a deliberate attempt to harm his reputation through a pattern of malicious behavior.
The BRS working president pointed out that her repeated, deliberate, and defamatory statements are not isolated incidents but part of a larger, orchestrated effort to damage his image and standing. He stressed that these actions must be viewed as criminal offenses under defamation laws and require appropriate legal consequences.
In his petition, KTR detailed how Konda Surekha’s remarks were made with conspiracy and malice, intending to harm his personal and professional reputation.
These defamatory statements, KTR argued, are not just political jibes but calculated efforts to degrade his image in the eyes of the public. By filing this case, KTR seeks to establish accountability for such misconduct and deter future malicious campaigns.